2016 Awardees

2016 Professional Recognition Award Recipients

• Distinguished Recent Contributions in Social Work Education Award

  Faye Mishna

  Dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Chair in Child and Family | University of Toronto

  The Distinguished Recent Contributions to Social Work Education Award is presented to Dr. Faye Mishna, dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Chair in Child and Family at the University of Toronto. Professor Mishna is internationally renowned for her cutting-edge research and scholarship on bullying, cyberbullying, and cyber counseling—far ahead of her time in making cyberbullying and cyber counseling a significant focus of her research, curriculum development, and leadership agenda. Her work has had a profound impact on the lives of children, adolescents, families, educators, and all who confront cyberbullying. Professor Mishna has authored two books, Bullying in Canada and Bullying: A Guide to Research, Intervention, and Prevention; 76 refereed journal articles; 16 book chapters; 93 peer-reviewed academic presentations; and more than 100 invited presentations to the Toronto Police Board, the U.S. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, and the Canadian Mental Health Project.

  As an exemplary academic leader, she has emphasized research-informed practice and practice-informed research, resulting in a strengthened research infrastructure at her institution and a high success rate in obtaining academic grants. She supported her faculty’s innovative research in simulation as an empirically-based pilot project to support the development of a vibrant and internationally recognized simulation-based educational program for social work education. Professor Mishna worked closely with Aboriginal leaders to develop the new MSW specialization Indigenous trauma and resiliency, which is part of a unique community-based intervention program that addresses the effects of current, cumulative, generational, and cultural trauma. She also developed three on-site MSW courses taught in the community: social work practice with Aboriginal peoples, advanced family, and pediatric health care.

  As a leading social work educator and researcher with innovative contributions to social work education, Professor Mishna is a fitting choice for this prestigious award.

• Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award

  Larry E. Davis

  Dean of the School of Social Work, Donald M. Henderson Chair, and founding director of the Center on Race and Social Problems | University of Pittsburgh

  The Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award is presented to Dr. Larry E. Davis, dean of the School of Social Work, Donald M. Henderson Chair, and founding director of the Center on Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh.

  He has dedicated his life to issues of race, civil rights, and social justice, with a career marked by several firsts. He was the first African American to earn a PhD from the dual-degree program in social work and psychology at the University of Michigan, and was the first African American to be awarded tenure at Washington University in St. Louis.

  Over the years, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Science Foundation have funded Dr. Davis’s work. As a leading scholar of the narrative about race in America and its role in social justice, he has sought solution-based dialogues that promote a more racially equitable society. His books include Why Are They Angry With Us? Essays on Race; Race, Gender, and Class: Guidelines for Practice With Individuals, Families, and Groups (coauthored with Enola Proctor); Ethnic Issues in Adolescent Mental Health (coedited with Arlene Stiffman); Working With African American Males: A Guide to Practice; Measuring Race and Ethnicity (coauthored with Rafael Engel); and Race and Social Problems: Restructuring Inequality (coauthored with Ralph Bangs). Dr. Davis serves as the coeditor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Social Work (20th ed.) and editorial board chair of Race and Social Problems. His articles have appeared in periodicals such as International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Journal on Research on Social Work Practice, Journal of Urban Education, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, and Psychiatric Services.

  Dr. Davis’s extensive contributions as educator, scholar, and leader make him a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.